And now here they are, Nick and Sue on Chatterbox.
When the stars talk, they talk to Nick and Sue.
Welcome back to the Chatterbox Redux Podcast
with Sue and Nick and today our special guest
is Chesney Hawkes. This is Nick and Sue with
Chatterbox giving you all you need to know about
music. and uh now in chatterbox uk we're just
lucky enough to welcome back chesney hawks chesney
hello welcome how are you sir hello guys been
a bit a little while hasn't it have you been
it has well we've had a very busy year where
i think we just launched chat box when we spoke
to you last and we sort of lost the number of
stations when it got to 100. We don't count so
much now. We think we're 116, 120 somewhere around
there now. Wow, congratulations Scott, that's
amazing. It's all good. So yeah. Brilliant news.
Thank you for coming on. So imagine if you went
to all those stations separately, you've done
15 interviews today. Imagine. No, I'd rather
do it all in one fell swoop. So congratulations
on your syndication. Thank you. Congratulations
on your busy year. When we did speak last time,
you'd... Well, we were still in lockdown and
you were planning an album and I think you were
doing podcasts with your family, was that right?
The kids were involved, the wife was... Yeah,
I think I was doing my live and unfiltered series
at that point, wasn't I? So it was like a TV
show from my studio. I turned my studio into
a TV studio, which was an amazing experience
and really fun. So Chesney, since then, I think
we were planning an album, there's a box set,
there's a Nick Herschel version. Right, what's
coming out? We're now March 2022. And now we've
got a very exciting launch. I think it's next
week, end of the month. Tell us about that. Yeah,
first of all, the... The Nick Kershaw 2022 remix
of The One and Only is out now digitally. So
that's out. That was really fun. Getting hold
of the master tracks for The One and Only and
Nick took it and I wouldn't trust anybody else
except for Nick and with that gold. and he took
it and ran with it and re -recorded all the guitars
and re -did some drumming, programming and all
sorts of little bits and freshened it up, put
some fairy dust on it and off it went. So that's
out. That's out now and all your good streaming
services. Uh, then I've got the box set, which,
uh, she's coming out on the 25th of March. I
know your listeners can't see what I'm showing
you there, but there's the box. And it's, yeah,
it's a lovely package, uh, with five, five albums.
Um, so all of my, all of my albums up to date
and some rarities and a DVD with, uh, you know,
some unseen live footage of me and top of the
pops footage and all sorts of fun things. So
yeah, that was, that was a real fun walk down
memory lane putting that. together and I'm very
proud of the final product. Absolutely, that's
fantastic and before we say goodbye, Will, I'll
ask you what the next plans are because I think
there was some talk of a new album at some point,
I believe. Yes, so we talked about that and at
the time I didn't know whether to put it out
during the pandemic because, you know, people
were kind of holding back on albums which I decided
to do in the end and I just hold it back a little
bit. So we are now planning on putting that out
in the summer. Um, so, so watch this space for
that one. Um, uh, yeah. So, but there's all sorts
of things going on. I've had, I, I actually managed
to, to record the music from, from a musical
that I'd written that I've written, which is
now, uh, out on, on my YouTube channel. Um, and
so if anyone's interested in that, just go to
chesneyhawks .com. It's going to have everything
on there. And I've got a podcast that I've been
doing for a while now. We've done two seasons
now and we're running into the next series. So
yeah, it's pretty busy. And I'm also taking the
reins of the tremolos because my dad, who was
the lead singer of the tremolos hasn't been very
well. And last year, thank you. And last year
he had a tour uh all planned uh with a 60s gold
tour with a package tour with like you know the
Marmalade and uh Herman's Hermits all these fabulous
artists but he wasn't well so I kind of took
over and and uh basically became the lead singer
of the tremolo so I'm doing it again this year
in October and November so It was wonderful,
actually. At one point last year on the tour,
my dad managed to make a few of the gigs and
he came along and I had my son Indy on tour with
me, who's this incredible guitar player, as you
know. And so at one point we had three generations
of hawks on stage at the same time, which was
lovely. That's amazing. And I'm sure who better
than... than you to take the family reins, because
although I did say that last time we chatted
that, you know, I do believe you would have been
successful as a singer and a film star without
your dad. I do feel you would have been a star,
but nobody better really, surely. Imagine being
Chip Hawks and... Chesley just steps in and takes
the reins as lead singer Dremelo. It's magical,
isn't it? It's brilliant. Well, it was definitely
well received. I mean, you know, unfortunately,
none of the people that came to that. uh, tour,
uh, where I'd taken over knew that dad was ill.
So, you know, by the, by the time the tremolos
came on, um, you know, the, the compare basically
said, unfortunately chip Hawks is not able to
make it tonight because of his ill health. And
of course, so you could hear the, oh, in the
crowd. And then they said, but the good news
is he's sent his wee boys. Cause my brother was
on drums as well. So, so the two of us, uh, you
know, made up for it, hopefully they're like,
So, yeah, yeah, but it was nice. It was nice
to do a whole tour without doing the one and
only as well. Whatever happens and if you're
still touring in another 30 or 40 years time
plus, that is basically your anthem, isn't it?
Yeah, I can't get away from that one. And how
many times you must have done that as an encore
for a second time in a concert? You'd be a very
rich man if you got it. pound every time, I'm
sure. Yeah. Well, I never play it twice in a
gig, but I definitely would have a pound for
every time I played it. That's for sure. I'm
sure. I'm sure. Before we move on too far, you
mentioned your musical, which I did, because
I do obviously get your press releases and everything.
But for the light of me, I can't remember what
it's called. So could you please enlighten myself
and our listeners? And we'll have a wee look
when we finish with Chesney, won't we? Yes, darling.
So what was the title of that, please? The musical
is called The One. And if anyone's interested,
if you go to Chesneyhawks .com and in the menus,
there's different things like there's the musical,
there's the podcast, everything. So look for
The One, The Musical. And it's all... The way
I've released it at the moment is just the music
alone. And it's all on my YouTube channel. And
it's got its own playlist. So it's all in order.
So you can kind of follow the story. And we made
little videos to kind of explain what's happening
in the story. So while you're listening to each
song, you're also kind of learning a little bit
about the story. That's cool. Now, maybe I'm
pushing things a bit too far here, but you are.
Well, I believe professionally you were a film
star, an actor before you were a singer professionally,
I believe. Now, bearing in mind that we've got
this acting side, what are the chances of this
musical ending up in the West End or on Broadway,
perhaps? I think pretty high, to be quite honest
with you. Before the pandemic, we already had
interest for it and we did a workshop for it
at the London School of Musical Theatre, which
went down really well and we had a lot of interest.
So of course, then the pandemic happened and
everything got put on hold. And now we're just
starting to see theatres opening and they're
taking on the projects that were actually slated
for 2020. And, and some of them that were slated
for 2021. So, you know, what I'm saying is there's
no room in any of these theaters for a new musical.
And of course, producers of musicals are not
going to be taking risks on new musicals, especially
one like ours, which is quite a big cast, quite,
you know, probably an expensive thing to put
on. But I think, you know, as time goes on, there
are still people interested and they're still
circling around us, especially now that we've
kind of been putting the music out there and
it's been so well received. So who knows, I would
like to put it out there somehow, even if it's
on a UK tour and perhaps I would star in it which
might help put Bums on seats a little bit and
get it out there. We'll see, you know, what's
this space? It's easy to be, you know, filling
your diary up for you in advance, not just me.
I think it'd be fantastic at least launch it,
you know, with you as the star anyway. I don't...
believe you're high risk at any, you know, but
I understand what you said, it's a big car. So
but yeah, I don't, I don't believe it's high
risk. And I think when they've got whatever's
in the pipeline, I don't see there's any reason
why we can't be talking about this new year or
two is time and when it's all organized and Chesney
Hawks is coming on to tell us about the launch
of his musical. I could definitely see that happening,
Nick, to be quite honest with you. But as we
say, you know, the projects, all sorts of creative
projects have been put back from everyone, you
know, myself, the album, the musical. I mean,
so, you know, we'll see what happens and we just
have to kind of watch this space. But it's a
passion project for me, so I'm not going to let
it go, put it that way. This is Nick and Sue
with Cheddar Box giving you all you need to know
about musical entertainment Cheddar Box Cheddar
Box Cheddar Box Cheddar Box Cheddar Box Cheddar
Box It takes two to tangle And two to present
a radio show So here's Nick and Sue Your musical
duo. Now, I think we found your number one fan.
Before we do, could we ask Chesney if he could
actually say hello to that fan? Well, yeah. Well,
in a minute. He will though. He's got fine manners,
I remember. Anyway, Chesney, I believe we found
your number one fan. And Sarah Gale. And she's
sent a couple of questions. She's been a fan
of your, of Chesney Hawke since 91 and first
got to see the film Buddy Song. And boy, when
I finally did, I was taken, totally loved the
film and still do to this day. Even went and
bought the soundtrack on good old vinyl. So what,
I'd love to be able to ask Chesney if I could,
what was it like filming beside the legend that
is Roger Daltrey? And are there any memorable
outtakes from that film that stick in your minds?
Yes. Well, for a start. Hello, Sarah. Thank you
for your question. Roger is a legend. Obviously,
I was only 17 when we're filming that film. So
quite nerve wracking because, you know, he's
quite a formidable figure. He gave me some fabulous
advice back then, mainly being never stay never
get off the road. Just keep playing, playing,
playing, which you know, I've never forgotten.
My dad also said the same thing amongst other
people that I had toured with over the years,
like Brian Adams and Huey Lewis. One of the best
pieces of advice from all of these legends, it
was that just keep playing live. So in that respect,
Roger was a father figure. Obviously he was playing
my father. He was great. took me under his wing.
He obviously comes from a music side. So I come
from a music side, my dad and everything. So,
you know, we had that in common. He actually
toured with dad in the sixties. So, yeah, as
far as memorable outtake moments there. Yeah,
there's quite a few. Some of them I definitely
couldn't tell you. There's one. There's one.
Abloid radio is fine. No, exactly. One that comes
to mind. I think. There was a moment where Roger
was he had he was playing Terry, my dad, and
a very excitable character and a teddy boy. And
he had a video camera, one of these big, you
know, the old fashioned in the late 80s video
cameras. Oh, you know, sit on your shoulder and
so that. And that character had just got this.
And he was running yet to run into a howl. And
we're filming in Slough trading estate and not
trading estate, sorry, the Slough. It was a residential
estate. So he was running into a house with the
camera and on one of the takes he ran into the
house and he just tripped over one of the wires
or something like that. And the camera went flying
and smashed into a million pieces onto the wall.
And Roger just landed on his face. There's moments
like that that I wish. I wish we could find them
somewhere. I'm sure the bloopers are out there
somewhere, but I haven't ever seen anybody's
song bloopers, so it would be nice to get hold
of those. Fantastic, yes. It's so exotic right
now and, yeah, they will certainly be a great
find in some years to come, you know, like other
things have been. And, oh, you've got another
question, actually, from Sarah Girl. Yes, filming
with the other TV legend, the late Michael Elphick.
that was her favourite from the film, is a torn
in half favourite song and it just pulls at the
heart and you can feel Buddy's pain. So that
was just a comment more than anything else. That
song was one of the songs that I wrote and very
lucky to get a few songs on that album. It was
about the teenage boys pain of going through
the divorce of his parents and being kind of
like pulled between the two parents in a way.
So yeah, I understand the emotional connection
she has to that song. Michael Elphick was amazing
and really was the kind of elder statesman as
far as the actors on set and a really lovely
guy, really wonderful. I kind of miss him being
around. I said Roger took me under his wing,
but acting wise, it was all about about Michael
and Sharon Juicy played my mum. I've really lucked
out with those two really lovely people. That's
cool. That's cool. And I do remember Roger, actually,
because he only lives a few miles up the road
from us in Hastings, where he's got his trout
farm. But in addition to that, I do remember
the advice that he actually gave you, just keep
on, just keep going. Of course, I remember Roger
Daltrey in an interview a few years ago now.
And he basically said, when The Who were doing
something or other, and he basically said, So
who have never actually stopped? What do you
think about it? They haven't. So that advice
he gave you is absolutely true. He has really
just carried on. Absolutely. I think the advice
really from that I took on board there wasn't
just kind of generally carrying on and dust yourself
off and keep going. It was more it was more stay
on the road, like stay playing live because there's
so many artists, especially around that time.
You think about it kind of early 90s that weren't
really live act. You know, and it was a lot of,
a lot of artists that had come out of late, late
eighties, early nineties that were, you know,
uh, maybe, maybe not kind of musicians so much.
Um, you know, so, so I took that as a, you know,
just keep playing with a band, you know, keep
playing live music and, and, and I never, I never
stopped and I, and that's something that I, that
I'm really, really grateful for because I feel
like that's where I really learned my craft.
Yeah. That's brilliant. Perfect. Before we finish,
do you have any more questions? Don't worry.
Anyway, Chesney, your Nick Herschel 2022 mix
of the one and only is on my A -list now because
I do quite a lot of live radio as well. You're
already being played. As I said, you got voted
on a hit and miss. feature. It's a smash hit.
That's where everybody votes for it. And there
was quite a lot of votes coming in from UK and
the Netherlands. So look out for a hit there
as well. Okay, great. What we'll be doing, obviously,
next few weeks with the box set coming out, obviously,
that gets a mention at the same time we give
a play. So it's going to get a little bit of
a push from from our end anyway. Fabulous, thank
you. And Sue, I believe you've got a question
for Chesney. Yes, Chesney, the box set. Can you
stop doing that because I can't see it. The box
set you just showed me, how did you pick the
picture for that? I remember it. Well, there
were so many pictures from those days that we
were looking to have possibly in the box set.
In the leaflet, there's all sorts of pictures
from, you know, right from 91, right up to actually
more recent, actually, to be honest. We didn't
know whether to put... you know an old one or
a newer picture in and we decided in the end
to go for the most iconic look and we thought
that that was probably it you know the leather
jacket and the white t -shirt that's kind of
if you ask kind of you know my loyal fan base
that stuck with me all these years um you know
what would be the most iconic look that's probably
it so and there's something quite striking about
that particular picture with the red background
on yeah i'm sure that picture on that cover.
I'm sure that was used on the quad -size cinema
poster. I'm sure there's a picture of you at
one end of the poster. I'm sure there was. Possibly,
yeah. It was also the photo that was used for
the front cover of the American Buddy Song album,
which was called The One and Only. Fantastic.
I just said the background, but the back, the
other jacket, it just fits. It works well. That
is jacket fitted, yeah. Yeah, it only just fits.
I've still got it. I've still got that jacket.
I know what you meant to say. Anyway, we've got
a website here, Chesney, of www .chesneyhawks
.com once again. www .chesneyhawks .com and all
the other social media, just by clicking we find
it. It won't come up now, but I have had a look
and I don't know. You've got links to all your
various things, all your social media. So yeah,
it's all on there. And as I said, all the social
media and all of the projects are all in there.
So if anyone's interested in delving in or coming
to see me live even, then everything's there.
Perfect. And looking forward to chatting with
you next time already, Chesney. Thanks for coming
back on Chatterbox UK. Thanks for having me,
guys. Pleasure's always, Chesney. Thank you,
sir. No, absolute pleasure. See you next time,
mate, guys. You've been listening to the Chatterbox
Redux podcast with Sue and Nick. We thank our
special guest who today was Chesney Hawkes. The
email address is nickelbum at myyahoo .com. Alternatively,
our postal address is P .O. Box 26, The Old Observer
Building, Telford Road, St. Leonard's -on -Sea,
East Sussex, England, TN 38 9 LZ. Twinkle, Sue
and myself, Nick, would like to thank you for
your company this week and look forward to welcoming
you again for another Chatterbox Redux podcast
in the near future. Take care, bye bye. This
is Nick and Sue with Chatterbox giving you all
you need to know about musical entertainment
Chatterbox, the best interviews with Nick and
Sue Chatterbox, the best news